Clean sweep for Cross Country at Three Rivers Conference Championships

Oct 25

On Saturday, October 12, the cross country teams traveled to Bethel for their first time to compete in the annual Three Rivers Conference championships. The team walked away with gold medals and plenty of success!

The boys team raced first for the day and had their very own conference champion, sophomore Colin Hinkelman. Hinkelman raced a time of 16:17.0 which snagged him first place and TRC Runner of the Year. In a close second was sophomore Zak Klepinger with a time of 16:48.8.

This 1-2 finish helped Hinkelman and Klepinger receive First Team all TRC. In 11th place was Andrew Oaks, running a time of 17:50.2, which named him Second Team all TRC. Jacob Grube followed close behind in 15th place with a time of 17:58, earning him Second Team all TRC. Freshman Riley Kent had a standout day with a 2-minute personal best time of 18:31.1, placing him 20th. Chase Parsons finished in 22nd with a time of 18:34.3, Tyler Shoemaker in 26th at 18:41, Liam Hartley in 34th at 19:37.9, and Austin Shoemaker in 42nd at 20:45.2.

However, the most exciting part of the finishing places and times is that the boys team were named Conference Champions. This makes this the second year in a row the team has achieved this honor. Head coach Mike Meredith was named TRC Coach of the Year, but says he could not have gotten this honor “without the dedication of a group of kids that have put a lot of work in since June.”

The girls team had just as much success on Saturday. Freshman Aubree Bates finished in 3rd place with a time of 20:04.1, earning her First Team all TRC. Also earning First Team was freshman Madalyn Korte with a time of 20:57.3. In 12th place was freshman Amelia Iddings running 21:53.7, making Second Team all TRC as well as sophomore Sydnie Bartlett in 16th place with a time of 22:18.5. Following Bartlett was Alaina Manning in 18th with a time of 22:55.5, Jessa Lightner in 24th at 24:05.6, and Lola Taylor in 36th at 26:10.1. Many of the girls had season-best times and finished in wonderful placings. The girls were also named Conference Champions for the second year in a row. The girls’ head coach, Amanda Higgins, was named TRC Coach of the Year.

Along with the high school teams winning, the junior high boys also took a 1st place finish. The Bulldogs finished the day with three conference titles and coaches named Coach of the Year.

Ty Parsons

Ty Parsons writes for the Gazette, specializing in sports and school coverage in West Milton. She is on the cross-country and track and field teams at the school, and is involved in many clubs, including Class President, National Honor Society President, Freshman Mentor, Hope Squad, Interact Club, and Student Council.